Safety tool cutter for steel straps



March l 1956 c. H. FENNELL 3,7,33

SAFETY TOOL CUTTER FOR STEEL STRAPS 2 S11ea'r,s-Shec=,rl 1

INVENTOR March l, 1966 c. H. FENNELL 3,237,303

v SAFETY TOOL CUTTER FOR STEEL STRAPS Filed Sept. 23, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 W////7 ,7 I7 BY H. 7%, QA/47M gx UL. M44 /f M ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,237,303 SAFETY TOOL CUTTER FOR STEEL STRAPS Charles H. Fennell, 1775 47th, San Francisco 22, Calif. Filed Sept. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 310,958 7 Claims. (Cl. 30-135) (Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), sec. 256) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

My invention relates to a safety tool cutter for cutting steel bands or wires which are used to bind packages, crates, bales or the like.

Steel bindings are often applied to packages, crates, bales and the like by mechanical means under considerable tension. When such bindings are cut by conventional means, the severed ends snap back and present a hazard to the operator and persons standing nearby.

It is therefore, a primary object of my invention to provide a safety tool cutter which will engage and hold the steel band or wire prior to, during and after the cutting operation thereby preventing the severed ends from springing back.

Another object of my invention is to provide a safety tool cutter which will cut steel bands from the outer edge of the band towards the inner edge thereby preventing the strap from sliding out of the device during the cutting operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a safety tool cutter which includes upper and lower holding members and means to maintain the holding members in an open position in order that the device may be easily slipped under the steel band preparatory to the holding and cutting operations.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of my invention showing the holding members in the open position;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of my invention showing the holding members in the closed position;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of a modified form of my invention; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

In the drawings wherein for the purposes of illustration are shown preferred embodiments of my invention, the numeral 1t) indicates the box or crate which is bound by a steel strap 11. The safety tool cutter generally designated by 12 comprises an elongated member 13 having a narrow mid portion 14 with a pivotal opening 15 therethrough and terminating in upper and lower bifurcations 16 and 17, the upper bifurcation 16 providing ears 18 having openings 19 therethrough. The lower bifurcation 17 provides holding surfaces 20 -having tapered forward ends 21. A leaf spring 22 is secured at one end by any suitable means to the undersurface of the elongated member 13.

A holding member 23 includes a forked forward portion 24 and oblique portion 25 and a solid gripping handle 26. Openings 27 are provided in the upper part of the 'forked oblique portion 25. Holding surfaces 28 are provided on the underside of the forked portion 24 and are of a configuration conforming substantially to the configuration of the holding surfaces 20 of the lower bifurcation 17. The holding member 23 is pivotally secured to 3,237,303 Patented Mar. 1, 1966 ice the elongated member 13 by pin 29 which extends through opening 15 in the mid portion 14 of the elongated member 13 and openings 27 in the forked oblique portion 25.

The tool cutter 12 includes a cutting head 30 having an opening 31 extending therethrough with a cutting member 32 and an elongated operating handle 33. The cutter head 30 is positioned between the ears 18 of the upper bifurcation 16 and is secured by the pivot pin 34 which extends through the opening 31 in the cutter head 30 and the openings 19 in the ears 18, A leaf spring 35 is secured at one end to the undersurface of the operating handle 33 and at its opposite end to the upper surface of the elongated member 13.

In the modification illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5, I employ the elongated member 13 utilized in the form of the invention shown in FIGURES 1-3 inclusive.

The holding member 23a includes a forked forward portion 24a and oblique portion 25a with a trailing member 36 having a seat 37 therein for the coil spring 38. The spring 38 is secured in the seat 37 and to the underside of the elongated member 13 by any suitable means. Openings 27a are provided in the upper part of the forked oblique portion 25a. Holding surfaces 28a are provided on the underside of the forked portion 24a and are of a configuration conforming substantially to the configuration of the holding surfaces 20 of the lower bifurcation 17. l

A cutter head 30a is provided with an opening 31a therethrough, a cutting element 32a, and an elongated operating handle 33a. The cutter head 30a is secured for pivotal movement between the ears 18 of the upper bifurcation 16 by pin 34a which extends through the openings 19 in the ears 13 and opening 31a in the cutter head 30a U-shaped springs 39 are positioned on both sides of the cutter head 30a and are secured thereto at their upper ends 40 in housings 41 by any suitable means such as the slots 42. A housing 41 extends at right angles on either side of the cutter head 30a and may be an integral part thereof. Rollers 43 are carried by the bight portion 44 of the springs 39 and engage the upper surfaces of the forked forward portion 24a of the holding member 23a. The springs 39 are guided by the brackets 45 which are carried by the cutter head 30a.

In operation, the spring 22 of the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1-3, or the spring 38 of the modification shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, normally urges the elongated member 13 away from the gripping handle 26 or the trailing member 36 thereby raising the forked forward portion 24 (or 24a) to enable the tapered end 21 of the lower bifurcation 17 to slide under the strap 11.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGURES 1 3, the operating handle is held in an elevated position by the leaf spring 35 so as to raise the cutter member 32 and permit entry of the strap between the holding surfaces 20 and 28 provided by the lower bifurcation 17 and the holding member 23. The operating handle 33 is then depressed which in turn compresses the spring 35, the elongated member 13, and spring 22 thereby bringing the lower bifurcation 17 and the forked forward portion 24 of the holding member 23 together to clamp the strap 11 between the holding surfaces 20 and 28. Since the operating handle 33 is pivotally secured between the ears 18 in a position which is forward of the strap 11, the cutting member 32 cuts the outer edge of the strap 11 rst and works towards t-he rear portion. It will be readily seen that this prevents the strap 11 from slipping out of the holding surfaces 20 and 2S during the cutting operation. The strap 11 is held between the holding surfaces 20 and 28 immediately prior to the cutting of the strap as well as during and after the cutting operation. This prevents the severed ends of the strap from snapping back.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 4 and S, the same result is achieved by a different structure. The operating handle 33a is held in an elevated position by the spring 39, When the strap 11 is positioned in the device, the operating handle 33a is depressed to force the spring carried rollers 43 against the upper surface of the forked forward end 24a of the holding member 23a. This action overcomes the resistance of spring 38 and clamps the strap 11 between the holding surfaces 20 and 28a. As the cutting action starts, the rollers 43 roll along the upper surface of the forked forward end 24a thereby maintaining the holding surfaces 20, 28a in Contact with the strap 11. The cutting member 32a cuts the outer edge of the strap iirst and works towards the rear portion to prevent the strap 11 from slipping out of the holding surfaces 20 and 28a.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred embodiments of same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A safety tool cutter for steel straps and the like comprising an elongated member, upper and lower bifurcations provided by said elongated member at one end thereof, a holding member, a forked forward end provided by said holding member, means pivotally securing Said holding member to said elongated member, a cutter head having a cutting member and terminating in an elongated operating handle, said cutting member converges toward the forward end of said lower bifurcation so as to define an acute angle therewith, resilient means urging said operating handle in an elevated open position, resilient means urging the forked forward end of said holding member and the lower bifurcation of said elongated member apart to receive the strap, and means pivotally securing said cutter head between said upper bifurcation adjacent the forward edge thereof whereby when said operating handle is depressed the strap is held between the forked forward end and the lower bifurcation and is cut from the outer edge towards the inner edge thereby positively preventing the strap from leaving the cutter during the cutting operation.

2. A safety tool cutter for steel straps and the like comprising an elongated member having a reduced mid portion, upper and lower bifurcations provided by said elongated member at one end thereof, a holding member, a forked forward end provided by said holding member, means pivotally securing said holding member to said reduced mid portion of said elongated member, a cutter head having a cutting member and terminating in an elongated operating handle, said cutting member converges toward the forward end of said lower bifurcation so as to define an acute angle therewith, resilient means urging said operating handle in an elevated open position, spring means engaging said elongated member and said holding member to maintain the forked forward end and the lower bifurcation apart to receive the strap, and means pivotally securing said cutter head between said upper bifurcation adjacent the forward edge thereof whereby when said operating handle is depressed the strap is held between the forked forward end and the lower bifurcation and is cut from the outer edge towards the inner edge thereby locking the strap in the cutter during the cutting operation.

3. A safety tool cutter for steel straps and the like comprising an elongated member having a reduced mid portion, upper Vand lower bifurcations provided by said elongated member at one end thereof, strap holding surfaces provided by said lower bifurcation, a holding member having a rearwardly trailing portion, a forked forward end and oblique portions provided by said holding member, strap holding surfaces provided by said forked forward end, means pivotally securing the oblique portions of said holding member to the reduced mid portion of said elongated member, a cutter head having a cutting member and terminating in an elongated operating handle, said cutting member converges toward the forward end of said lower bifurcation so as to define an acute angle therewith, resilient means urging said operating handle in an elevated open position, spring means engaging said elongated member and the rearwardly trailing portion of said holding member to maintain said holding surfaces of said forked forward end and of said lower bifurcation out of engagement thereby permitting free access for the strap, and means pivotally securing said cutter head between said upper bifurcation adjacent the forward edge thereof whereby when saidk operating handle is depressed the strap is held between said holding surfaces and is cut from the outer edge towards the inner edge thereby locking the strap in the cutter during the cutting operation.

4. A safety tool cutter for steel straps and the like comprising an elongated member having a reduced mid portion, upper and lower bifurcations provided by said elongated member at one end thereof, a holding member, a forked forward end provided by said holding member, said holding member terminating in an offset elongated trailing member, means pivotally securing said holding member to said elongated member, a cutter head having a cutting member and terminating in an elongated operating handle, said cutting member converges toward the forward end of said lower bifurcation so as to define an acute angle therewith, a U-shaped leaf spring secured at one end to said operating handle and at its other end to said elongated member urging said operating handle in an elevated open position, a second leaf springrcarried by said elongated member engaging said trailing member urging the forked forward end of said holding member and the lower bifurcation of said elongated member apart to receive the strap, and means pivotally securing said cutter head between said upper bifurcation adjacent the forward edge thereof whereby when said operating handle is depressed the U-shaped leaf spring forces the elongated member into contact with said trailing member by collapsing the second leaf spring to hold the strap between the forked forward end and the lower bifurcation and to cut the strap from the outer edge towards the inner edge thereby positively preventing the strap from leaving the cutter during the cutting operation.

5. A safety tool cutter for steel straps and the like comprising an elongated member having a reduced mid portion, upper and lower bifurcations provided by said elongated member at one end thereof, strap holding surfaces provided by said lower bifurcation, a holding member having a rearwardly trailing portion, a forked forward end and oblique portions provided by said holding member, strap holding surfaces provided by said forked forward end, means pivotally securing the oblique portions of said holding member to the reduced mid portion of said elongated member, a cutter head having a cutting member and terminating in an elongated operating handle, said cutting member converges toward the forward end of said lower bifurcation so as to dene an acute angle therewith, a U-shaped leaf spring secured at one end to said operating handle and at its other end to said elongated member urging said operating handle in an elevated open position, a second leaf spring carried by said elongated member engaging said trailing member urging the forked forward end of said holding member and the -lower bifurcation of said elongated member apart to receive the strap, and means pivotally securing said cutter head between said upper bifurcation adjacent the forward edge thereof whereby when said operating Ihandle is depressed the U-shaped leaf spring forces the elongated member into contact with said trailing member by collapsing the second leaf spring to hold the strap between said holding surfaces provided by said lower bifurcation and said forked forward end and to cut the strap from its outer edge towards its inner edge thereby positively preventing the strap from leaving the cutter during the cutting operation.

6. A safety tool cutter for steel straps and the like comprising an elongated member, upper and lower bifurcations provided by said elongated member at one end thereof, a holding member, a forked forward end provided by said holding member, said holding member terminating in an offset trailing member, means pivotally securing said holding member to said elongated member, a cutter head having a cutting member and terminating in an elongated operating handle, said cutting member converges toward the forward end of said lower bifurcation so as to define an acute angle therewith, a U-shaped spring carried by said cutter head on opposite sides thereof engaging said forked forward end and urging said operating handle in an elevated open position, a coil spring secured to said elongated member and to said trailing member urging the forked forward end of said holding member and the lower bifurcation of said elongated member apart to receive the strap, and means pivotally securing said cutter head between said upper bifurcation adjacent the forward edge thereof whereby when said operating handle is depressed the U-shaped springs overcome the resistance of said coil spring to force the elongated member into contact with said trailing member and hold the strap between the forked forward end and the lower bifurcation and to cut the strap from the outer edge towards the inner edge thereby positively preventing the strap from leaving the cutter during the cutting operation.

7. A safety tool cutter for steel straps and the like comprising an elongated member having a reduced mid portion, upper and lower bifurcations provided by said elongated member at one end thereof, strap holding surfaces provided by said lower bifurcation, a holding member having a rearwardly trailing portion, a forked forward end and oblique portions provided by said holding member, strap holding surfaces provided by said forked forward end, means pivotally securing the oblique portions of said holding member to the reduced mid portion of said elongated member, a cutter head having a cutting member and terminating in an elongated operating handle, said cutting member converges toward the forward end of said lower bifurcation so as to define an acute angle therewith, a U-shaped spring carried by said cutter head on opposite sides thereof engaging said forked forward end and urging said operating handle in an elevated open position, a coil spring secured to said elongated member and to said trailing member urging the holding surfaces of the forked forward end of said holding member and the holding surfaces of the lower bifurcation of said elongated member apart to receive the strap, and means pivotally securing said cutter head between said upper bifurcation adjacent the forward edge thereof whereby when said operating handle is depressed the U-shaped springs overcome the resistance of said coil spring to force the elongated member into Contact with said trailing member and hold the strap between the holding surfaces of the forked forward end and of the lower bifurcation and to cut the strap from the outer edge towards the inner edge thereby positively preventing the strap from leaving the cutter during the cutting operation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,459,864 1/1949 Bissett et al. 30-134 2,798,289 7/1957 Feunell 30--134 3,175,556 3/1965 Wood et al 30-124 X WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

R. V. PARKER, JR., Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SAFETY TOOL CUTTER FOR STEEL STRAPS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED MEMBER, UPPER AND LOWER BIFURCATIONS PROVIDED BY SAID ELONGATED MEMBER AT ONE END THEREOF, A HOLDING MEMBER, A FORKED FORWARD END PROVIDED BY SAID HOLDING MEMBER, MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURING SAID HOLDING MEMBER TO SAID ELONGATED MEMBER, A CUTTER HEAD HAVING A CUTTING MEMBER AND TERMINATING IN AN ELONGATED OPERATING HANDLE, SAID CUTTING MEMBER CONVERGES TOWARD THE FORWARD END OF SAID LOWER BIFURCATION SO AS TO DEFINE AN ACUTE ANGLE THEREWITH, RESILIENT MEANS URGING SAID OPERATING HANDLE IN AN ELEVATED OPEN POSITION, RESILIENT MEANS URGING THE FORKED FORWARD END OF SAID 